The context for this study was the increasing number of suicides in males year on year since 2013. Nationally the death by suicide figures reached a peak in 2019 with a death rate of 5,691 equating to 11 deaths per 100,000 population. The suicide rate for men is three times higher than that of women and this has been a consistent trend going back to the 1990s The figures for suicides in Leicester/ Leicestershire are consistent with the national picture and the gender split of 75% male to 25% female also mirrors national trends.

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We have many long-established military communities in many of the areas where we deliver our services, and we want to do our best to ensure that military personnel and their families can share their views on services and can get their voices heard through our delivery of Healthwatch. As an organisation, we want to show a commitment to supporting staff in the armed forces, veterans, and their families in any way we can.”

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Our ICAS service was contacted by Mrs. E as she had sent a letter of complaint to the trust on behalf of her late father. Mrs. E was confused by the complaints system and asked for support from an advocate. Mrs. E and her advocate discussed her concerns, and the advocate supported Mrs. E to draft a letter of complaint to the hospital.

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Edgar (not her real name) was in his 90s and living in his own home. He was referred to the advocacy service in relation to a section 42 inquiry under the care act. He met the criteria as she was assessed as having ‘substantial difficulty’ (by the referrer) and with no one appropriate or willing to assist him to consider the safeguarding concerns and any outcomes he wanted from the enquiry.

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Advocacy Awareness week emphasises that stories such as the elderly gentleman, young mum, and the young man are sadly not unique. Hence the need for advocates to challenge unlawful decisions on behalf of the human rights of the most vulnerable in our society is ever-present.

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We Successfully renewed our Cyber Essentials certification the leading UK Govt endorsed Security industry certification – Cyber Essentials certification – awarded after a rigorous technical review of our company’s security processes, platform and successfully providing evidence and demonstrating our security compliance against different risk and threat vulnerabilities.

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Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic 2020 – 2021 has required significant digital adaptation to ensure our community outreach and engagement, signposting, advice and information and priority work were connective with the public across the network of nine ECS Healthwatch in across, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Halton, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Leicester, and Leicestershire during COVID-19 pandemic, about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services.

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As a Community Interest Company, we are committed to giving back to the local community, either through donations, grants or through giving our time volunteering. On 8 and 9 July 2021, the staff and volunteer team at Healthwatch Wolverhampton joined up with the Canal and Rivers Trust to volunteer their time by spending two days tidying up a stretch of canal and its overgrown pathways around Coxwell Avenue and opposite the Science Park.

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At ECS our mission is “to ensure the voices of those who use public services are at the forefront of service design and delivery” – as part of this process, the network of nine ECS Healthwatch published 57 reports in 2020/201, across, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Halton, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Leicester, and Leicestershire during COVID-19 pandemic, about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services.

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Since COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. An extraordinary and productive year when reflecting on last year, it is satisfying to recognise how much our network of Local Healthwatchs has achieved despite the pandemic.

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ECS have been commissioned by Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to work with communities as part of their large-scale transformation plan for community mental health services. We have exciting opportunities for people living in Cannock, East Staffordshire, Seisdon and Tamworth to be co-producers with us.

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After a long, hard fight, the COVID picture is improving. 12 months on from the start of our fight against Coronavirus we are continuing to see a much-improved situation across the county. Thank you to everyone – but we must remain cautious and vigilant

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This year’s World Autism Awareness Week ran from 29th March – 4th April. It was an opportunity to think about the society we want to live in when we leave Covid-19 lockdown – and the small things we can all do to make it work better for autistic children, adults and their families.

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Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) is working in partnership with Diabetes UK to understand how patients have been affected by the use of telephone or online consultations with their GP practice or other Primary Care service.

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The easing of the national lockdown and the vaccination programme gives us all hope that we will return to normal one day. The last 12 months have been difficult for all of us, and we have had to adapt, none more so than the amazing doctors, nurses and care staff on the front line.

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Gill Valentine, one of our Advocacy Managers gives us an insight into what a typical day is like for her.

“My name is Gill Valentine and I currently manage the advocacy service at Healthwatch Halton as well as delivering an active case load. We currently provide statutory advocacy services for clients residing in Halton. The advocacy service is a small team and is made up of two full-time advocates (one of whom is me) and two part-time advocates.

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Healthwatch England looked at ease of public accessing GP appointments and how appointments were delivered during Covid-19 Lockdown. As a result, ECS have joined forces with Healthwatch England to conduct a study into digital exclusion in Primary Care Services across our nine Healthwatch services.

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The way health and social care services operate has been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) with non-urgent treatment postponed, face-to-face appointments reduced and homes and services limiting public access.

However, the work of our local Healthwatch teams has not stopped and our staff are working hard to find new and innovative ways of making sure people can continue to share their experiences of health and social care issues so we can make their voices heard.

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We want to say thank you for your continued support throughout this difficult year. We have been very fortunate to remain busy throughout the pandemic.

We all wish you a safe and happy Christmas, during the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and send best wishes for the holidays and New Year.

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